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Is Local Government Necessary? Overview of Recommendations

Local Government Reform: We've got to stop governing like this…or do we? A.K.A Is Local Government Reform Necessary?

sponsors
• CityTV, Government Access Television
• Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at IPFW
Questions / Topics to be covered
• How The Work of The Commission was done
• How / why were you selected for The Commission?
• How long and often did The Commission meet before coming up with these recommendations?
• Was there public input? Who attended the public meetings? Were they elected officials, government employees, average residents of the state, or some other groups?
• Key lessons and viewpoints
• You both have met dozens if not hundreds of elected officials over the years. What is your impression of them? Are they hardworking people trying to do what is in the best interest of Hoosiers or at least the best interests of their constituents?
• We all have heard someone say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Is the structure of our local governments broken? How?
• The Commission suggests changes that address modem needs "instead of being bounded by outdated realities." Did The Commission think that the current structure of local government made sense at some point in our history? If so, when?
• It was the view of The Commission that reforms should streamline government and make it easier to hold government officials accountable.
• There are many Hoosiers who would argue that the government that is closest to the people is the best government? That could mean the election of many officials which may not be very streamlined. Having many elected officials also may make it difficult to know who to hold accountable. How did The Commission deal with these contradictions?
• Hoosiers are elected or appointed to 3,086 different local governments and there are over 9,500 elected local government officials. Each of these elected officials and the thousands of other appointed local government officials help Hoosiers navigate the black box of government.
• If we streamline government do we not run the risk of closing off these various access points to government?
• Do we not need an informed population to know how to use an inefficient or streamlined government?
• If the population is not informed or is not willing to become informed, then would not the inefficient government with more access points actually be better because of the large number of elected officials engaged in constituent casework?
• Do we not need an informed electorate to hold elected officials accountable? How can these changes make the electorate more informed?
• A popular expression is to run government like a business. Is this possible? Why or why not?
Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne • Department of Political Science •
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd. • Classroom-Medical Building, Rm. 209 • Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805 *
(260) 481-6691 voice • (260) 481-6985 fax • downsa@ipfw.edu • www.mikedownscenter.org

sponsors
• CityTV, Government Access Television
• Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at IPFW
Questions / Topics to be covered
• How The Work of The Commission was done
• How / why were you selected for The Commission?
• How long and often did The Commission meet before coming up with these recommendations?
• Was there public input? Who attended the public meetings? Were they elected officials, government employees, average residents of the state, or some other groups?
• Key lessons and viewpoints
• You both have met dozens if not hundreds of elected officials over the years. What is your impression of them? Are they hardworking people trying to do what is in the best interest of Hoosiers or at least the best interests of their constituents?
• We all have heard someone say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Is the structure of our local governments broken? How?
• The Commission suggests changes that address modem needs "instead of being bounded by outdated realities." Did The Commission think that the current structure of local government made sense at some point in our history? If so, when?
• It was the view of The Commission that reforms should streamline government and make it easier to hold government officials accountable.
• There are many Hoosiers who would argue that the government that is closest to the people is the best government? That could mean the election of many officials which may not be very streamlined. Having many elected officials also may make it difficult to know who to hold accountable. How did The Commission deal with these contradictions?
• Hoosiers are elected or appointed to 3,086 different local governments and there are over 9,500 elected local government officials. Each of these elected officials and the thousands of other appointed local government officials help Hoosiers navigate the black box of government.
• If we streamline government do we not run the risk of closing off these various access points to government?
• Do we not need an informed population to know how to use an inefficient or streamlined government?
• If the population is not informed or is not willing to become informed, then would not the inefficient government with more access points actually be better because of the large number of elected officials engaged in constituent casework?
• Do we not need an informed electorate to hold elected officials accountable? How can these changes make the electorate more informed?
• A popular expression is to run government like a business. Is this possible? Why or why not?
Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne • Department of Political Science •
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd. • Classroom-Medical Building, Rm. 209 • Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805 *
(260) 481-6691 voice • (260) 481-6985 fax • downsa@ipfw.edu • www.mikedownscenter.org